The squadron was "re-formed" on 10 January 1941 during World War II, when No. 431 (General Reconnaissance) Flight RAF, briefly re-designated as No. 1431 Flight RAF. on Malta became No. 69 Squadron. It carried out strategic reconnaissance missions mainly using Martin Marylands until May 1942 when Spitfires began to carry out all reconnaissance missions. These were later supplemented by Martin Baltimores for shipping reconnaissance and anti-submarine patrols until April 1944 when the Squadron returned to the UK.[4]
No. 69 re-assembled at RAF Northolt on 5 May 1944 as part of No. 34 Wing of the Second Tactical Air Force equipped with Vickers Wellington XIIIs[5] for night reconnaissance duties, beginning operations on the eve of D-Day, using flares to locate enemy troop movements. In September the Squadron moved to France and Belgium until 7 May 1945, the Squadron disbanding on 7 August 1945.[3]
On 8 August 1945, 613 Squadron at Cambrai-Epinoy, France, was renumbered No. 69 Squadron, flying Mosquito FB.VI fighter-bombers until it was again disbanded on 31 March 1946.[5] The next day, 180 Squadron was renumbered No. 69 at Wahn again equipped with Mosquito light bombers until again disbanded on 6 November 1947.[2]
The squadron flew from RAF Gutersloh in Germany briefly from 1954. No. 69 had been reformed on 5 May 1954 at RAF Laarbruch as a Canberra reconnaissance unit and remained in Germany until renumbered 39 Squadron on 1 July 1958.[3]
Halley, James J. (1988), The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force and Commonwealth 1918–1988, Tonbridge, Kent: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd, ISBN0-85130-164-9
Jefford, C.G. RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 2001. ISBN1-84037-141-2.
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squadron, designation, squadron, been, used, royal, force, quite, different, units, squadron, mosquito, cambrai, epinoy, france, march, 1946active10, 1941, august, 19471, october, 1954, july, 1958countryunited, kingdombranchroyal, forcemotto, with, vigilance, . The designation No 69 Squadron has been used by the Royal Air Force for two quite different units No 69 Squadron RAF69 Squadron Mosquito FB VI at Cambrai Epinoy France in March 1946Active10 Jan 1941 6 August 19471 October 1954 1 July 1958CountryUnited KingdomBranchRoyal Air ForceMotto s With vigilance we serve 1 InsigniaSquadron Badge heraldryIn front of an anchor a telescope Squadron CodesMJ Apr Sep 1939WI Aug 1945 Mar 1946 No 3 Squadron Australian Flying Corps was formed at Point Cook Victoria Australia in 1916 2 To avoid confusion with No 3 Squadron RFC it was known to the British military as No 69 Squadron RFC although this terminology was never accepted by the squadron or the Australian Imperial Force 3 The squadron was re formed on 10 January 1941 during World War II when No 431 General Reconnaissance Flight RAF briefly re designated as No 1431 Flight RAF on Malta became No 69 Squadron It carried out strategic reconnaissance missions mainly using Martin Marylands until May 1942 when Spitfires began to carry out all reconnaissance missions These were later supplemented by Martin Baltimores for shipping reconnaissance and anti submarine patrols until April 1944 when the Squadron returned to the UK 4 No 69 re assembled at RAF Northolt on 5 May 1944 as part of No 34 Wing of the Second Tactical Air Force equipped with Vickers Wellington XIIIs 5 for night reconnaissance duties beginning operations on the eve of D Day using flares to locate enemy troop movements In September the Squadron moved to France and Belgium until 7 May 1945 the Squadron disbanding on 7 August 1945 3 On 8 August 1945 613 Squadron at Cambrai Epinoy France was renumbered No 69 Squadron flying Mosquito FB VI fighter bombers until it was again disbanded on 31 March 1946 5 The next day 180 Squadron was renumbered No 69 at Wahn again equipped with Mosquito light bombers until again disbanded on 6 November 1947 2 The squadron flew from RAF Gutersloh in Germany briefly from 1954 No 69 had been reformed on 5 May 1954 at RAF Laarbruch as a Canberra reconnaissance unit and remained in Germany until renumbered 39 Squadron on 1 July 1958 3 Contents 1 See also 2 References 2 1 Bibliography 3 External linksSee also EditList of Royal Air Force aircraft squadronsReferences Edit Pine L G 1983 A dictionary of mottoes London Routledge amp Kegan Paul p 266 ISBN 0 7100 9339 X a b RAF 69 Squadron Royal Air Force Royal Air Force Retrieved 18 July 2016 a b c Halley 1988 p 135 Lewis Peter 1968 Squadron Histories RFC RNAS amp RAF London Puttnam amp Co p 40 ISBN 0 370 00022 6 a b Jefford 2001 p 49 Bibliography Edit Halley James J 1988 The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force and Commonwealth 1918 1988 Tonbridge Kent Air Britain Historians Ltd ISBN 0 85130 164 9 Jefford C G RAF Squadrons a Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912 Shrewsbury Shropshire UK Airlife Publishing 2001 ISBN 1 84037 141 2 External links Edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to No 69 Squadron RAF nbsp This article about a specific British military unit is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte nbsp This RAF article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title No 69 Squadron RAF amp oldid 999647138, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
